Written by new-contact on Dec 7, 2011. Posted in On Location

Snow White and The Dark Knight Rises shoot with Wales Screen Commission

The Wales Screen Commission (WSC) has experienced another busy year assisting productions. Seven feature films and five major television dramas shot in Wales throughout 2011, proving that Wales is still a popular choice for film and TV producers.

This year began with the return to South Wales of TV sci-fi favourite Torchwood. Torchwood: Miracle Day, a co-production between the BBC and the US premium network Starz, came to South Wales in January, shooting stunt sequences on the beach at Rhossili. They also used locations in Swansea, Cardiff Bay and the Vale of Glamorgan.

The sequel to Clash of the Titans (which itself filmed in North Wales in 2009) used Ystrad Quarry near Trefil, Blaenau Gwent during June and July, building substantial sets for the film and employing around 300 local extras, as well as over 80 Wales-based freelance crew.

In September Snow White and the Huntsman filmed for a week on Marloes Sands in Pembrokeshire and their second unit shot for a couple of weeks in the Brecon Beacons. Stars Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth generated lots of attention from the public and international press during their stay in Wales. The film will be released in cinemas from June 2012.

Penny Skuse from the WSC who visited the set in Marloes said: “They were lucky in that they picked one of the sunniest weeks in September to film and the coastline at Marloes is impressive even in poor weather. However in the sunshine the location was simply stunning. It’s going to look fantastic on the big screen.”

They were lucky in that they picked one of the sunniest weeks in September to film [Snow White and the Huntsman] and the coastline at Marloes is impressive even in poor weather. However in the sunshine the location was simply stunning.

Penny Skuse, Wales Screen Commission

Two other Hollywood franchises visited Wales in 2011. The Dark Knight Rises and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows both had second units filming here, the former using waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons and the latter using Dyffryn Ogwen and Rhyd Ddu in Snowdonia for horse-riding sequences.

A new screen version of Richard II from Neal Street Productions, with Sam Mendes Executive Producing, shot in Pembrokeshire in June and July. Starring Ben Whishaw as King Richard II, as well as Patrick Stewart, David Suchet and James Purefoy, it will be screened on BBC Two in 2012 as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

The WSC are currently dealing with at least four major productions that are keen to shoot here next year, ensuring that Wales will remain on both the big and small screens throughout 2012.